Health · Memphis
Memphis, MO health
Memphis differs from Missouri on 5 of 40 measures. Where it trails the state most: more adults with COPD (10.3% vs 8%) and more adults who have had cancer (10.9% vs 8.6%).
CDC PLACES 2025 · adults 18+ · CDC's estimate for MemphisTownTapestry Health GradeNew
C
Memphis’s Health Grade: C
On seven CDC health estimates for adults, Memphis is healthier than 27% of U.S. towns, and than 51% of towns with similar incomes.
CSelf-rated healthC-Physical distressC+Mental distressB-ObesityC+DiabetesC-SmokingC-Exercise
All U.S. towns we grade (19,420)Healthier than 27%
Less healthyHealthier
Missouri towns we grade (428)Healthier than 55%
Towns with similar incomes, $41K–$69K (6,819)Healthier than 51%
Better than its income would suggest. Memphis is healthier than most towns with similar incomes, even though its overall grade is C.
These are estimates. At the ends of CDC’s likely ranges, Memphis could be anywhere from D− to B.
How the Health Grade works
- Seven CDC estimates. Adults in fair or poor health, frequent physical distress, frequent mental distress, obesity, diabetes, smoking and no exercise (CDC PLACES, 2025 release). On each one a town earns the share of U.S. towns doing worse, and those shares are averaged. It’s the same score as our Healthiest towns in Missouri ranking.
- Graded on a national curve. Every U.S. town with 1,000+ residents and all seven estimates (19,420 places) is lined up by score: A+ top 5%A next 10%A- next 10%B B+ to B−, next 30%C C+ to C−, next 30%D D and D−, bottom 15%
- Not adjusted for income. Wealthier towns are usually healthier, and the grade shows that as it is. The similar-incomes bar compares Memphis with U.S. towns whose median household income is within 25% of its own.
- Modeled, not measured. CDC combines national survey answers with each area’s age, sex, race and income mix. Memphis uses CDC’s own estimate for it. High blood pressure is left out because it tracks age more than anything else. The confidence line recomputes the grade with every estimate at the low, then the high, end of its range.
Report card
How Memphis compares with Missouri
Each theme counts how many of its measures are better, worse or too close to call against the state. Tap one to jump to it.
Chronic conditions
36.6% have obesity
0 better7 close5 worse
Habits
32.3% get no exercise
0 better4 close0 worse
Care & screenings
79.6% had a checkup
0 better7 close0 worse
Mind & connection
30.2% feel lonely
0 better5 close0 worse
Everyday needs
12.8% face food insecurity
0 better5 close0 worse
Disability
40% have a disability
7 measures · shown without a better/worse judgment
Chronic conditions
Out of every 100 Memphis adults…
40 of every 100 Memphis adults have high blood pressure
Missouri: 37 in 100 · too close to call · margin 35.5–44%
Bars show Memphis; the black tick is Missouri. Tap a condition to see it as people.
Habits
Everyday habits, side by side with the state
Memphis, betterMemphis, worseToo close to callMissouri
Get no exerciseshare of adults
32.3% Memphis
MO 28.8%
MO 28.8%
Sleep under 7 hoursshare of adults
35.4% Memphis
MO 36.5%
MO 36.5%
Binge drinkshare of adults
14.5% Memphis
MO 16.3%
MO 16.3%
Smoke cigarettesshare of adults
17.3% Memphis
MO 16%
MO 16%
0%10%20%30%40%
Care & screenings
Keeping up with care
Share of Memphis adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Missouri.
Yearly checkup
MO 78%Dentist visit
MO 60%Cholesterol check
MO 85%Colon screening
MO 64%Mammogram
MO 75%Taking BP meds
MO 77%1 in 11
working-age adults has no health insurance
Memphis 9.1% · Missouri 1 in 11 (8.7%)
Mind & connection
How Memphis adults are doing
1 in 3Memphis adults feel lonely
30.2% · Missouri 31.7% · too close to call
1 in 4Memphis adults have been diagnosed with depression
24.7% · Missouri 24.3% · too close to call
1 in 5Memphis adults lack social or emotional support
18.7% · Missouri 20.1% · too close to call
1 in 6Memphis adults are in frequent mental distress
17.6% · Missouri 17.5% · too close to call
Everyday needs
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
1 in 8
Memphis adults worry about having enough food
12.8% · MO 13.7% · about the same
1 in 9
Memphis adults worry about keeping their housing
10.6% · MO 12.1% · about the same
1 in 13
Memphis adults were threatened with a utility shut-off
7.8% · MO 9% · about the same
1 in 13
Memphis adults lack reliable transportation
7.9% · MO 8.4% · about the same
10.4% of Memphis adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.8% across Missouri.
Disability
Living with a disability
40%
of Memphis adults live with a disability (Missouri 36.2%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Walking or climbing stairs19.5%
Thinking or memory18.4%
Hearing10.9%
Errands alone10.8%
Vision5.8%
Dressing or bathing4.5%
Black tick: Missouri. Shown without a better/worse judgment.
Getting care
Care in and near Memphis
1 hospital and 1 community health center in Memphis, plus the nearest just outside it.
HNearest ERScotland County HospitalMemphis · 0.4 miDirections →
+Low-cost careNortheast Missouri Health CouncilMemphis · 0.7 mi · sliding-scale feesDirections →
0.7 mi
Northeast Missouri Health Council
8 sites · nearest in Memphis
Memphis Community Health CenterMemphis · 0.7 mi
Northeast Family HealthEdina · 20.1 mi
Northeast Family HealthKirksville · 27.5 mi
Northeast Family Health AnnexKirksville · 27.6 mi
Kirksville Veteran's ClinicKirksville · 27.7 mi
Ob/Gyn Specialty GroupKirksville · 28.7 mi
Northeast DentalKirksville · 28.7 mi
Northeast PediatricsKirksville · 28.7 mi
Nothing matches.
! Primary careMemphis's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Scotland/Clark County · need score 16 of 25
! Dental careMemphis's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Scotland/Schuyler Counties · need score 13 of 25
! Mental healthMemphis's county is a federal shortage area for some residents.Low-income residents, Region 14 MHCA · need score 17 of 25
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Memphis. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
All 40 measures for Memphis
| Measure | Memphis | Margin | Missouri | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronic conditions | ||||
| High blood pressure | 39.6% | 35.5–44% | 36.5% | about the same |
| High cholesterol | 39.9% | 35.6–44.5% | 37.5% | about the same |
| Obesity | 36.6% | 29–45.1% | 36.6% | about the same |
| Arthritis | 33.8% | 30.3–37.7% | 28.8% | worse |
| Depression | 24.7% | 21.2–28.7% | 24.3% | about the same |
| Lost all teeth (65+) | 15.8% | 13–18.9% | 15.8% | about the same |
| Asthma | 10.9% | 9.6–12.4% | 10.6% | about the same |
| Cancer (not skin) | 10.9% | 9.7–12.2% | 8.6% | worse |
| Diabetes | 12.9% | 11.1–15.1% | 12.1% | about the same |
| COPD | 10.3% | 8.3–12.4% | 8% | worse |
| Heart disease | 8.6% | 7.4–9.9% | 6.8% | worse |
| Stroke | 4.5% | 3.8–5.2% | 3.6% | worse |
| Habits | ||||
| Smoke cigarettes | 17.3% | 14–21% | 16% | about the same |
| Binge drink | 14.5% | 11.8–17.4% | 16.3% | about the same |
| Get no exercise | 32.3% | 26.9–38.6% | 28.8% | about the same |
| Sleep under 7 hours | 35.4% | 28.6–42.6% | 36.5% | about the same |
| Care & screenings | ||||
| Yearly checkup | 79.6% | 75.8–82.8% | 78.4% | about the same |
| Dentist visit | 60.9% | 57–64.7% | 60.4% | about the same |
| Cholesterol check | 84.6% | 81.9–86.8% | 84.5% | about the same |
| Colon screening | 62% | 56.3–67.4% | 64% | about the same |
| Mammogram | 68.5% | 59–76.8% | 74.7% | about the same |
| Taking BP meds | 79.6% | 76.8–82% | 77.2% | about the same |
| No health insurance | 9.1% | 6.6–12% | 8.7% | about the same |
| Mind & connection | ||||
| Feel lonely | 30.2% | 25.2–35.5% | 31.7% | about the same |
| Lack emotional support | 18.7% | 15.3–22.2% | 20.1% | about the same |
| Frequent mental distress | 17.6% | 15.3–20% | 17.5% | about the same |
| Fair or poor health | 22.9% | 18.9–27.3% | 20.5% | about the same |
| Frequent physical distress | 16.3% | 13.9–18.9% | 14.2% | about the same |
| Everyday needs | ||||
| Food insecurity | 12.8% | 9.8–16% | 13.7% | about the same |
| Housing insecurity | 10.6% | 8.5–12.7% | 12.1% | about the same |
| Utility shut-off threat | 7.8% | 6.5–9.2% | 9% | about the same |
| No reliable transportation | 7.9% | 6.5–9.5% | 8.4% | about the same |
| Receive SNAP | 10.4% | 8–13.2% | 10.8% | |
| Disability | ||||
| Any disability | 40% | 34.8–45.9% | 36.2% | |
| Walking or climbing stairs | 19.5% | 16.1–23.1% | 15.8% | |
| Thinking or memory | 18.4% | 15.6–21.6% | 17.2% | |
| Hearing | 10.9% | 9.5–12.4% | 8.3% | |
| Vision | 5.8% | 4.7–7% | 5.1% | |
| Dressing or bathing | 4.5% | 3.7–5.4% | 3.9% | |
| Errands alone | 10.8% | 8.9–12.9% | 9.2% | |
About these numbers
How CDC estimates town health
They're modeled estimatesCDC combines a large national health survey with each area's age, sex, race and income mix to estimate local rates. Nobody surveyed Memphis door to door.
Close calls stay grayEvery figure has a margin of error. When the Missouri figure falls inside it, we don't call Memphis better or worse.
CDC's own town estimateCDC publishes Memphis directly, so these are its own figures.
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Missouri figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau.